Emirate Xaaron to Goldbug, Kup, Rodimus, and Wedge

[Emirate Xaaron]

//Division heads, Prime, I have a matter I need to discuss with you. In my reality, it is customary for someone who has newly joined the Autobots to undergo the Rite of the Autobrand. I am aware that it is a tradition peculiar to my own reality. However, it would seem important to mark such a transition, so perhaps we should start our own tradition, here and now. Opinions?//

//Also, we need to decide just what rights being an Autobot confers.//

[Goldbug]

//I'd definitely say we need something, Emirate,// comes Goldbug's reply. //The Rite's a pretty good one, but I guess I'm just rooting for it because it's what I know.//

[Kup]

//Well, you know, it might help if you folks would explain what the blazes this 'Rite of the Autobrand' is. And whatever we decide on, is it just going to apply to those who become Autobots here, or are we going to be asking all new arrivals to undergo it?// There's a faintly disapproving tone as Kup says this.

//As for rights... well, I mean, I can't see forcing someone to stay one of us who doesn't want to. But, you know, when they are here there's a certain amount of order-following that's gotta be done. This is a war, after all.//

[Emirate Xaaron]

The Rite of the Autobrand involves Prowl tattooing an Autobrand onto the subject one-handed because he has a gun in his other hand for no apparent reason, then Prime says something corny, and the subject mainline the mingled fuel of the assorted Autobots on hand into his arm.

It sounds really stupid and cult-like when explained that way, doesn't it?

//The Rite of the Autobrand involves branding the Autobot symbol onto the new Autobot, informing him of his rights as an Autobot, welcoming him to the cause, and giving him the mingled fuel of his new compatriots to imbibe. Of course, we have to figure out what those rights are, even if we were going to go with something similar.//

//New arrivals who are already Autobots wouldn't have to undergo it. They already earned it, somehow.//

[Wedge]

//Back at home, we had no Rite. Either that or I never heard of it.// As far as Wedge knows, all you had to do to be an Autobot was, well, want to be an Autobot. You probably had to prove yourself some how. But... //Wait, mingled fuel of his new compatriots? // Wedge sounds slightly skeptical about this. Probably because that's a little too close to vampyrism in his mind which makes it a bit reminiscent of Galvatron's little energy-siphoning bats. Here's also the same bot who comes from a universe where mechs indulge in oil bathes.

[Goldbug]

//Biggest thing I think we could promise them in way of rights is protection, and that they'll all be treated fairly. That even if they're going to submit to our chain of command, that they'll still be respected and not just lorded over.//

Hey, when you elect Grimlock and it suddenly all goes south, these things are important. He'd strongly considered a 'don't blame me, I voted for Prowl' bumper sticker.

[Kup]

//Fair treatment I can support, as well as not tolerating bullying in the ranks. But 'respect' is kind of vaguely defined and subjective. We've got a lot of youngsters here, some of 'em kind of childish, and I'd just as soon not spend my time settling, 'so-and-so's is disrespecting me' disputes.//

//There's also different kinds of respect, including the sort that need to be earned, and can't be guaranteed or promised.//

[Goldbug]

Hey, some of them were youngsters, not that long ago! Nothing like a near death experience to make you grow up fast.

//Yeah, you're right there, Kup.//

[Wedge]

And some of them still are.

//Also, they shouldn't have any reason to be afraid of putting in their opinion about how things work. You know, being given some sort of of a say into how things work. //

[Emirate Xaaron]

//Fine, no mingled fuel.// Unwashed heathens, the lot of them! //Wedge, could you see if Perceptor could maybe whip up something special in the fuel department?//

//While listening to input is all well and good, they do have to understand they may have to abide by decisions, even if they dislike them.//

//That said, in my reality, any Autobot had the right to walk out at any time. Is this a right we would wish to maintain?// Emirate Xaaron is rather curious to hear what people have to say on that point, particularly Kup. He can guess what Goldbug and Rodimus Prime will have to say. Emirate Xaaron can't say that he's terribly interested in revoking it. Someone who doesn't want to fight and is forced to can do more harm than good.

[Rodimus Prime]

//I would think so!// Rodimus Prime pipes in. //Someone who's been forced to fight for us can't be relied on, and besides, how would we do it? Reprogramming? That's not for us.//

Yes, Autobots have mind-wiped and similar in the past, but that doesn't mean Rodimus Prime, specifically, is all right with it.

[Kup]

//I agree. I stood behind letting Skyfire make up his own mind, and I stand behind everyone here being given the same courtesy, even if that means changing their minds.//

[Goldbug]

//Blaster and I did walk out on Grimlock,// Goldbug notes. //And he tried to have us hunted down. Who knows what he's doing to Blaster now that he caught him? We've gotta do better than that.//

[Rodimus Prime]

//Actually, Goldbug, I know. And yes, that was a pretty dark chapter in Autobot leadership, one that will not be repeated here.// Rodimus's voice is firm as he says this.

[Wedge]

//I'll give Perceptor a call about it, sir.//

//There have been cases of rumored walk-outs back where I come from¹. They weren't received too well, but like I said, they were only rumored. If someone feels the need to leave, we shouldn't stop them. Though, it'd be nice to know why they'd want to be leaving before they do it, in case it's something we can help with.//


¹ Said rumored turn-coat would be Mirage.